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Thursday, April 14, 2022
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Rain highlights drainage issues in Narromine PAGE 3
Mental health Motocross kids is like ‘being rise again at bogged’ STORY: PAGE 9 state qualifier SPORT
Farm accident exposes phone coverage flaws in the bush
Badly injured after falling from a height on his property, Alex Ballhausen could not call for help on his mobile phone due to lack of reception.
By SHARON BONTHUYS A FARM accident south of Narromine has exposed the potentially fatal flaws in poor mobile phone coverage in regional Australia. Badly injured after falling from a height on his property on the morning of March 14, Alex Ballhausen could not
call for help on his mobile phone. Mr Ballhausen woke up on his hands and knees, with blood on his arm and in excruciating pain. There was no phone service and his property is just 60 kilometres south of Narromine. “I knew I couldn’t stay where I was because no one
knew I was there. My wife knew I was on the farm but was in Dubbo at the time,” he said. The fall left Mr Ballhausen with eight fractured vertebrae, a fractured shoulder and ribs, a punctured lung, a fractured skull, smashed nose, cheekbone and eye socket. Despite his extensive in-
juries, Mr Ballhausen managed to crawl to his ute 20 metres away and drive to where a group of earthmoving contractors were working on his property nearby. “Adrenaline kicked in and I knew I had to move,” he said. The contractors drove him towards town and were able to call for help en route. They
were met by an ambulance, who ferried the seriously injured patient to Dubbo. From there, Mr Ballhausen was flown to Sydney where he underwent surgery at the Royal North Shore Hospital to fuse five vertebrae together and repair his damaged face. Continued page 2
Trangie Truck and Tractor Show triumphs “THIS event will go ahead rain, hail or shine!” That was the message the organisers of the Trangie Truck and Tractor (TTT) Show posted on social media last Friday. Days of bad weather in the lead up to the event, courtesy of conditions on the east coast, had bucketed the central west with rain. Some sections of the event were relocated from the Trangie showgrounds to the main street as a contingency. This effectively split the event between two locations. Saturday, April 9, dawned grey and rainy initially, but the weather held from mid-morning. The show went ahead split across the two venues and was a roar-
ing success. People came from all over to enjoy the entertainment on offer at Trangie’s biggest community event of the year. The showgrounds hosted market stalls and children’s activities undercover while the demolition derby in the afternoon drew diehard fans. Dandaloo Street hosted trucks, tractors, and an assortment of old and newer classic cars. The organisers scrapped the entry fee at the showground meaning patrons entered for free. Local businesses and clubs operating stalls in the central business district also benefited from the large crowds checking out the action in Dandaloo Street. Continued page 4
This antique fire appliance from days gone by was one of the many highlights at the Trangie Truck and Tractor Show. PHOTO: NARROMINE STAR
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